How should a Christian deal with suffering? Contrary to the false promises of the prosperity gospel, the first step is to admit that it is a part of God’s plan. In fact, verse 27 reminds us that experiencing the yoke of suffering is actually an important part of everyone’s education. It does a child no good to grow up with the unrealistic expectation that he will always get a trophy, and that he will never have to experience the consequences of his actions.

And no, just because we suffer doesn’t mean God doesn’t love us. Verses 32 and 33 make that point clear. God is faithful to His covenant because of His great love for us, even though sometimes our sins or the sins of others, or the general condition of this fallen world brings pain to us and our loved ones.

And verse 30 gives us a hint as to the greatest proof of this point – the experience of Christ Himself. For He didn’t deserve any of the suffering He went through. And yet He embraced the poverty and the scorn, the beatings and the crucifixion because of His love for us. And all that agony happened to Jesus in spite of the great love the Father has for the Son.

So, once we realize that suffering is often a part of God’s plan, even though He loves us so much, how do we deal with suffering when it comes our way? Verses 25 and 26 tell us – we must simply wait for the Lord. We must wait for Him to save us. Sometimes He does this by taking away the cause of our suffering. Sometimes He does this by allowing us to grow and become more mature because of it. But whatever happens, the cross of Christ proves that God’s great love often comes through suffering, not in spite of it.

Lamentations 3:19-33 (NASB)

19 Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.
20 Surely my soul remembers And is bowed down within me.
21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.
22 The LORD’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.
24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”
25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.
26 It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD.
27 It is good for a man that he should bear The yoke in his youth.
28 Let him sit alone and be silent Since He has laid it on him.
29 Let him put his mouth in the dust, Perhaps there is hope.
30 Let him give his cheek to the smiter; Let him be filled with reproach.
31 For the Lord will not reject forever,
32 For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness.
33 For He does not afflict willingly, Or grieve the sons of men.